Tuyere



J. A. DROGUE Jan. 30, 1934.

TUYERE Filed Jan. 29, 1932 7 mllllllllllll I/I/IIII Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES TUYERE James A. Drogue, Noblesvllle, Ind.,- assignor to American Engineering Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 29, 1932. Serial No. 589,729

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tuyeres, and more particularly in tuyeres of the type employed in multiple retort underfeed stokers, which tuyeres are composed of a plurality of plates arranged in superimposed stepped relation and having provision for passage of air therebetween to the fuel-bed.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the structural and functional characteristics of tuyeres of the stated type.

' More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an improved design of the tuyere plate which shall render it more durable and less liable in assembly to injury due to unequal expansion and contraction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel tuyre plate of the character set forth so designed as to avoid initial strains developing in the molding operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tuyere plate wherein the anchoring means is so positioned as to afford a minimum of interferenc to the free flow of air through the tuyere and a normally uniform distribution of airto the discharge outlets.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a 'tuyre plate of the stated type wherein the anchoring means for theplate is so located as to be unaffected by partial deterioration in that portion of the plate exposed to the incandescent fuel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tuyere plate having novel anchoring means more efiectively immobilizing the individual plates in the assembly and tending to prevent warping of the plates in operation.

The foregoing. and other desirable objects hereinafter appearing I accomplish by the novel construction illustrated in the attached draw- Oj ing, in which:

Figure I is a bottom plan view of a tuyere plate made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the plate; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the plate; Fig.4 is a fragmentary side elevational and sectional view of a tuyere illustrating the relative positions of the tuyere plates in assembly; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 1. With reference to the drawing, a tuyere made in accordance with my invention comprises a plurality of plates formed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and assembled as illustrated in Fig. 4. Each of the plates comprises a substantially flat 55 body portion 1, the forward or nose portion 2 of which, formed on an arc, is slightly depressed below the upper plane of the body. Depending from the under side of the nose portion 2 of the plate is a plurality of channel-forming ribs 3, 0 the forward edges 4 of which are beveled rearwardly from the edge of the nose portion and the rearward edges 5 of which are beveled in the reverse direction, the ribs 3 terminating rearwardly of the depressed nose portion but well in advance of the rear edge of the plate. The ribs 3 form an uninterrupted series distributed around the nose portion and converge towards the center of the plate as clearly illustrated. At each side of the body portion and extending longitution 1 well rearwardly of the inner ends of the ribs 3 and located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the plate is a pair of' hooked anchor lugs 9, these hooks facing forwardly of the plate as illustrated. Directly to the rear of each of the hooks 9 and extending completely through the body portion 1 is an opening 10, these openings lying in part within the extension 8 and being adapted in assembly to receive the hooks 9 of the immediately overlying plate, as illustrated in Fig. 4, whereby the plates are interlocked one with another.

In assembly, as shown in Fig. 4, the lower edges of the ribs of the series 3 and the side boundary ribs 6 bear upon the upper flat surface of the underlying plate, while the inclined rear edges of the ribs 6 bear upon the upper edges of the 9 sidewalls of the tuyere box indicated in Fig. 4

by the reference numeral 11. Air fed to the said box is thus confined beneath the tuyre plates and escapes to the fuel-bed through the passages formed between the ribs 3, a substantially uniform distribution of the air around the entire nose portion of the individual plates being afforded. Preferably and as shown in Fig. 5, the ribs 3 are somewhat tapered toward their lower edges.

By the aforedescribed construction, I obtain a material improvement over tuyeres of like character as constructed prior to my invention. Heretofore it has been customary to employ as an anchoring means for the plates a single hook located on thelongitudinal center line of the plate and in the nose portion of the latter. By employing two hooks located as described at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line and well rearwardly of the inner ends of the channelforming ribs 3, I obtain a more even distribution of the mass of the plate, with the result that cracking due to uneven expansion and contraction in operation is largely prevented. This more uniform distribution of mass also relieves initial strains set up in the mold in the casting operation and affords a stronger and more durable tuyere plate. The location of the anchor hooks also materially reduces interference with the free flow of air to the air channels between the ribs 3, and gives a greater uniformity of air distribution through the tuyeres to the fuel-bed. The anchor hooks 9 being located well to the rear of the nose portion of the plate are not affected by deterioration of that portion of the tuyere plate which by reason of exposure to the incandescent fuel is more liable to deterioration than the other portions. A maximum useful life for the individual plates and the tuyre as a whole is thus afforded.

Another material improvement resides in the employment of two anchor elements disposed as described. The prior type of tuyres employing a single locking element on the longitudinal center line is subject to rocking and minor displacements due to inequalities in the castings or warping of the tuyere plates in operation. The present device rectifies this defect by providing an anchor at each side of the center line of the tuyre, which not only tends to prevent warping but also precludes undesirable rocking and minor relative displacements of the plates.

It will be understood that there may be some modification as to the form and arrangement of the various elements of the plate described above without departure from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tuyere plate adapted for assembly with similar plates in superimposed stepped relation to form an inclined tuyre, said plate having a plurality of locking elements disposed respectively at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the plate in widely spaced relation, and

having rearwardly of said elements apertures for of said body portion, said fastening means being adapted in assembly to engage the next lower tuyere plate to retain the same in proper position, said fastening means being positioned on said plate at widely spaced points and remote from said members whereby the mass of said plate is substantially evenly distributed, thereby preventing uneven strains from being set up therein when subjected to the variable temperature conditions of furnace operation.

3. A furnace tuyre plate adapted for assembly with similar plates in superimposed relation to form a tuyre, said tuyere plate comprising a body portion, a plurality of ridges provided thereon, and a plurality of fastening means depending from the under side of said body portion, said fastening means being disposed on said plate in widely spaced relation and remote from the ridges thereon whereby the mass thereof is substantially evenlydistributed over the plate so as to prevent warping or cracking due to the varying temperature conditions of the plate when formed in the mold, and said fastening means being adapted in assembly to engage the next lower tuyre plate to retain the same in proper position.

JAMES A. DROGUE. 

